Nutrition Counseling / LEAP

Nutrition counseling is available to all WomanCare patients, as well as family members and non-patients. Our Registered and Licensed Dietitian provides one-on-one, personalized nutrition recommendations in a relaxed and private atmosphere. Half-hour to one-hour appointments are available for pregnancy, women’s health, high cholesterol, weight management, osteoporosis, digestive concerns, review of supplements and general nutrition for disease prevention/wellness. Food intolerance testing is also available, which involves a blood test to determine food causes of IBS, migraines, fibromyalgia an d other chronic diseases related to inflammation.

Nutritionist Peggy Tsevis, MPH, RD, LD

Peggy is a registered and licensed dietitian. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Loyola University, graduating Cum Laude, with a double major in biology and psychology. She received her Masters Degree in Public Health and her Dietetics Degree from the University of Illinois, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

Peggy has worked in health care marketing, fitness centers, weight loss companies and in consulting. At WomanCare, she counsels on a variety of nutrition issues, with a special interest in women’s health, pregnancy, high cholesterol, weight management, osteoporosis and nutrition for disease prevention/wellness. Peggy is also certified in food hypersensitivity testing, which involves a blood test to determine food causes of irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, fibromyalgia and other chronic diseases related to inflammation.

Peggy keeps very busy staying on top of the latest nutrition research. She is married and the mother of two sons.

LIFESTYLE, EATING AND PERFORMANCE TESTING AT WOMANCARE (LEAP)

Millions of Americans suffer from food sensitivities. To determine if you suffer from food sensitivities, the first step is to identify trigger foods and chemicals. Traditionally this has been difficult because food sensitivity reactions may be delayed by hours or even days after digestion.

Most common blood tests used to identify reactive foods fall short — they are limited in sensitivity and specificity or they do not test chemicals in addition to foods. Fortunately there is a program called LEAP (Lifestyle Eating and Performance) that can help overcome the most troublesome food sensitivity problems. LEAP includes a patented blood test called MRT (Mediator Release Test) that detects most food sensitivity reactions. With over 90% accuracy, independent studies confirm MRT is the most comprehensive blood test available for food and food-chemical reactions.

Typically, a person may exhibit multiple symptoms of food intolerances. To assess whether you suffer from food intolerances, try this on-line symptom survey.

The LEAP program is intended to remediate the symptoms of patients suffering from irritable bowel, migraines, fibromyalgia and other chronic diseases related to inflammation. According to medical research, diet often provokes these conditions. Therefore, properly managing one’s diet is vital to getting optimal outcomes. Experts agree that accurate identification of the offending foods or additives is the first step in achieving rapid, effective relief. Many patients are on numerous medications for these conditions, which are often refractory to treatment.

With LEAP, a patient’s blood is drawn and tested for 150 different foods and chemicals that are common in the American diet. Once reactive foods are identified, an individualized diet is developed as part of the LEAP protocol. A patient will work closely with our certified LEAP dietitian to implement their personalized diet and monitor their symptoms. By removing reactive foods, the immune system is given time to calm down, allowing symptoms of food sensitivities to improve in as little as 5-10 days.

A patient can expect to receive the following with the LEAP plan:

In-house blood draw at either the Palatine or Woodfield office

Overnight FedEx of the blood sample to the lab

An individualized ImmunoCalm diet, divided into 5 phases, specifying exact foods to be consumed over the next 4 weeks

A rotation diet after completing phases 1-5, which helps avoid the possibility of new food intolerances developing